D. Michael Thomas holds a bachelor's degree in history from The Citadel and is a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam conflict. He coached and umpired Little League baseball for thirteen years and spent seven years as a Civil War reenactor. Michael is a longtime active member of both the American Legion and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. His previous works are Wade Hampton's Iron Scouts: Confederate Special Forces (2018) and Confederate General Stephen Elliott: Beaufort Legend, Charleston Hero (2020). He is now retired from the field of international trade.